X61s, T61, T61p Dillema - I want small size when out, but MULTIPLE DISPLAYS when in the office

Hey guys (and gals if any lol). Ok I am seriously considering to purchase a new notebook and need you experts advice on this (Hopeful ASAP)
((just posted this, hope not twice bconze first time didn't work))

I came to the conclusion that the Lenovo X61s running Vista Business at the it's maxed out configration (1.6GHz cpu, 4Gb RAM, 7200RPM HD, Turbo Memory) meets my Performance needs just fine HOWEVER WITH ONE EXCEPTION:

It's limited external screen output! Let me explain further:

For serious productivity there is nothing that beats multiple displays. It makes my work so much faster and to me, worth every penny.

The low rez of 1024x768 that comes with the X61s doesn't bother me at all because when I am working OUTSIDE the office, that rez is just fine for me.

HOWEVER when I am working AT THE OFFICE I would like to work with at least TWO more big 1680x1050 displays and have the additional 12.1" screen of the X61s as an extra. So 2 external displays + one internal display, to a total of 3 displays.

Problem is the X61s Docking only comes with one VGA out. So I guess I can connect 1 External Display and as well as use the Lenovo's small screen. But that is not enough for me as I look for at least 3 displays. It is so much more productive for me that is worth any price.

The Dilemma:
With X61s just 1 external VGA(that's outdated!) port

With T61 or T61p and Advanced Dock (or even minidock) I get TWO ports 1 DVI and 1 VGA. So if I am not mistaken (I hope not) I can connect 1 screen using DVI connector and another using VGA connector and then I get to a total of 3 displays (1 of the T61 internal 15.4", 1 connected through DVI and 1 connected through VGA). What's more, I think that MAYBE using the Advanced Dock I can plug in another display card and maybe get 4 displays which will be paradise for my work.

I've also looked at the specs of the T61p and that one even offers 1920x1200 (wow I think I will need a microscope to the read the screen text lol).

Anyway I am lost here!

I'd rather prefer the "take anywhere" X61s over the T61p massive monster. But the screen usability really turns me off. I know there are some tweaks (like using some matrox box to splut screens) but I don't like this tweak as it's not spreading the screen estate the way that XP or Vista will split it.

So now basically I am torn between the:
X61s, Intel X3100
T61 WXGA+ Nvidia Quadro NVS 140M 128mb (1440x900)
T61p WUXGA Nvidida Quadro NVS FX 570M 256mb (1920x1200)

I must emphesize I don't do any 3D work, but I do want flawless fast Vista Aero experience and to be able to work with the minimum of 3 displays at once (2 extranal and 1 internal)

Any professional help is greatly appreciated. I need to make up my mind ASAP

 

The easiest answer is,

Anyone who wants to run multiple displays needs to get the most robust video card possible. I've tried running just two displays on an older 8800GT on my desktop Pentium4 at 2.5 ghz. Lags like a mother, and can't get anything done.
The X61's video card sucks too much to run two, forget three displays handily. The T61's 140M is a bandaid solution for those that couldn't afford/couldn't wait for the 570M to show up.

If you're talking about taxing video output, get the best video card, with the best cpu, and the highest ram amount, not to mention the most screen real estate. You can always change your windows fonts/swap resolutions. That means, the 2.4ghz cpu, the 570m T61p, and 4GB memory from newegg.com or wherever.

have fun.

 

no offense kebs, but I don't think you know what your talking about.

You do not need a high end video card to run multiple monitors. The one exception to that would be if you are doing 3d.

My recommendation to you, computerminder, would be to buy whichever laptop best fits what you want to cary around, and then get the advanced dock with the PCI-E slot. That will allow you to add a video card with two monitor outputs.

 

no offense Kelch, I do know what I'm talking about. a video card designed to power a laptop and maybe an external projector is not going to do as well as a powerhouse video card.

 

My lowly T43P could drive it's own display at 1600x1200 and a second display at 1920x1200 without any lag at all for all standard desktop applications.

I suspect something was wrong with your setup using the 8800GT

 

Any one of those should be able to handle two displays without any hiccups. I seriously doubt you can run three separate desktops over three displays with any of those. Someone chime in if I'm wrong.

 

Your wrong.

Even a lowly x3100 isn't going to have a problem running two high resolution screens. Most of that power ends up going to waste when your not using it for 30.

Correct. They are all dual head cards meaning they can only support two displays at once.

To uuse three or more display the OP will need to do what I sugested above, get the advanced dock and add a pci-e video card.

 

You might want to take a look at the Samsung SyncMaster 940UX. It's a Display that is connected via USB and therefore doesn't need a special or second video-card. The downside is that it needs a lot of CPU-Power (at least as far as I know).

 

I agree with Sw00p - the SyncMaster is another nice option but it does come with the warning of high CPU power. Review:
http://www.everythingusb.com/samsung_syncmaster_940ux_11970.html

Another option is the IOGear USB Video Card, which seems to work well for office use : http://www.everythingusb.com/iogear_usb_2.0_external_video_card_12787.html

I didn't know that the Advanced Display Dock for the T series works for the X series o.0... if it does that's pretty awesome. I dont however think it does though: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834995038

You should definitely call Lenovo to double check compatibility if you go with the advanced dock.

Personally I'd just go with the X61s and then get the IOGear external... have the integrated graphics on the X61s drive one external monitor and the IOGear drive another.

 

What about the Matrox Dualhead ?

 

I have been looking into this:

http://www.villagetronic.com/vtbook/index.html

Looks wicked interesting.

Dave

 

As you suspected, the Advanced Dock does not work with the X-series.